Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Elves and the Shoemaker

Northern Ballet's Elves
and the Shoemaker provides another delightful and accessible introduction
to ballet for children. Shown on CBeebies during Easter weekend, with the
channel's Mr Bloom (Ben Faulks) presenting, it no doubt captivated its young
viewers – both dance fans and those unfamiliar with the art form alike.

Ali Allen’s designs – including an array of beautiful shoes –
bring the story vibrantly to life with Daniel de Andrade's choreography providing both narrative clarity and plenty of magic. The whole cast is excellent but Filippo Di
Vilio and Kiara Flavin stand out particularly as the fairy tale's sprightly elves.